Mixing and volume control faucet



Dec, 19 1950 K. BROWN, JR 2,534,658

MIXING AND VOLUME CONTROL FAUCET Filed July 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iq i Z8 T glnfiznint CHE 21.55% EPLE/PEQQOWM m xi.

Dec, 19, 1950 c. K. BROWN, JR 2,534,658

MIXING AND VOLUME CONTROL FAUCET I Filed July 25, 1946 v 3 Sheets-Sheet2 idiurnng Dec. 19, 1950 c. K. BROWN, JR

MIXING AND VOLUME CONTROL FAUCET Filed July 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3glubzntut 39 CHAEAESKEPLEEBEOW/ JFa Patented Dec. 19, 1950 U NIT ED STATES T O F F l-CE "MIXING IAND VOLUME CNT=ROL FAUCET Charles KeplerBrown, J12, Fairmont, W. Application July-25, 1946,*Serial'No.- 686;219

J2-1Glaims. 1 This invention relates to plumbing equipment andmoreparticularly to ,faucets for use :in this class act apparatus.

There are a number of particular forms of faucets usable for mixing hotand cold water within a combination unit. They are however limited to asingle-use vfaucet, which is either for a sink or basin accessory aloneor for .a shower control alone.

\ InIthiS invention, itis an object to provide a "new and improved :form.of mixing faucet that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages andlimitations of the prior art.

Another -.object .of this invention is to provide anew and improved formofhotand cold water mixingfaucetthat will-be capable .of use forsink,basin or bath :pouring and at the same time be available for analternate :use forshower ,orsimilar arrangementspfrom the same faucetunit.

Anadditional object of the present invention is to provide anew andimproved mixin faucet that can be used .for mixing liquids of pluralcharacteristics in a single structure and .then :direct .thecombinedfluids to alternate dispensing outlets arbitrarily.

Another :object .of :the .present invention is to :provide a :new andimproved faucet which is :provided with means for adjusting the tapered.plug in the body member.

Other objects will .become apparent as the invention is more fully "set:forth.

Fora clearer understanding of the present invention, referenceiis madetothe appended drawings and the attached-description of a particularform, furnished byway of example to illustrate the general principles ofthe invention, while the claims indicate the :scope "and spirit .of thesame.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mixing iaucet unit embodying thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional .view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l, andshows the position of the plug in relation to the hot and cold waterinlets and shows the valve head in closedposition;

Figure 3 is a sectional view takenalong line 3--=3 of Figure .1, butwith the viewtaken at right angles to that-shown inFigure 2, and showsthe .plugpositioned to allow the water to :run'outoi the spout when thevalve head is opened, the passage to the shower bath beinginbfiposition;

Figure .4 ;is a plan view taken along line si of Figure .,3,showing thetapered plv-s and valve head positioned in the easing;

Figure :5 .is :a view similar to "that .ishown sin .2 .Eigure abut-withthe'valve head removed itocs'how the positionof :the inlets .in thetapered plug;

Figure 16 is :a sectional view .of the body member similar to (Figure 2but with the variousparts removed :to .show its inner construction;

Figure 7 is "a :sectional view of the body mernber similar .to Figure 3but with various parts removed .to show its inner construction, {andFigure 851s a :sectional .view similar to that shown in Figure 2,but'with the valve head raised to allow the mixediluids .to leavethrough "the shower pipe.

.Sirnilar reference characters refer to similar :characters throughoutthe drawings.

In "the structure indicated in the drawings, a body member H! .is formedwith a hollowed. out interior chamber ill and open at the upper end. Theupper wall surface iii .of this chamber ll is :screw threaded at 12while .the lower wall it is rfrustrnmatically tapered. The bottom i5 isflat iand an interveningvertical surface -US isstraight. Thereare fourscrew connections, ii, 48, l9 and 281r'espectivelyfor outside couplingof a hot water pipe .21, a cold water pipe 22, shower piping .23, and aspigot-spout 2 4 respectively. Periphera'l grooved :slots 25, 21, :28and 29, respectively :enable the water to pass through same into the.difierent channel in their proper sequence. The .member 5N3 has aflange 31 formed to facilitate the attachment of 'the'unit toabasin-Stor other utensil to which it is to be attached. The exterioriof' theupper wall of the-member H! is screw threaded-at 32 to take and receivean interiorly screw threaded clamp plate with a circular flange i'i ialignable with the flange 3! and serving to engage the upper surface ofthe basin that theun'it -is clamped to. The body member ID is arrangedto pass through a hole in the basin 3i! tmnositionfitselflforusetherefor. A tapered plug 35 i inserted into the chamber H androtatably fits therein. It'has a cen'tralhole 3'5 that is initernallytapered towards the bottom and leading to passages :38, "39 and t llspaced circumferentially therein with passages 38 and 39 on the same-leve'l-and i l situated one-different level. "flllhey however can alignwhen the plug is rotatediwith "the-passages 26, 2.1, 28 and 29 in therrnember its, .in predetermined sequence. An upi perportionsllofithehole 3:? ha its surrounding surfaoe'straightiandvertical. Holes 43 of limited L'depth are spaced apart on the samediameter =circle,-at such-'distancesas'may be selected. Zihis plug :fitsin the :lower tapered portion of ithe Imember all! sand. is operablyrevolved i-by pins 4M iprojeoting item the flat surface .of the fflange46 suitable.

of a spindle 41. The spindle 41 is kept in place by a flanged nut 50having a packing nut A8 with a relatively large central passage Q9. Thepacking nut is screw threaded on its external portion and is screwedinto the flanged. nut 50. The nut 55 is externally screw-threaded to fitthe screw threaded portion I2. A gasket 59 at this point preventsleakage. A revolving cap 52 is of the form indicated in the drawingswith a step-shaped exterior and internal contour to enable it toappropriately cover the parts of the structure and keep it in apractical and concise form. An indicator manipulating arm 53 is includedin the design of the cap 52 and is intended for registry with suitablemarks 35 provided on the plate 34 so that the operator may appreciatewhat temperature water is being discharged, and the position of the armalso determines the direction of water flow. To facilitate thispositioning the opening 3 in the cap is made irregular in outline to fitover the upper portion 55 of the spindle 4'! to form a key-likemanipulator for the latter. A set screw 55 ties the cap to this spindleadditionally to prevent its unauthorized removal during use. A stuffingbox nut 5'! screws into the central passage or" the spindle and presseson packing 53 to prevent leakage therethrough. Packing 59 at othercations is used for the same purpose.

A main dome like handle 55 is employed for turning the unit on and 01?.This is done through its attachment to a valve stem El extendingvertically in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The upper end portion 52is of irregular form to fit into a similarly formed recess 53 in thedome 6E).

This enables the dome to rotate the stem as it rotates. A screw threadedmiddle portion 6 3 on the stem engages in the spindle 3'! so that itsrotations will raise and lower the valve cone head 65. stem. At theopposite end of the stem, a tapered valve cone head E5 aligns and wedgesinto the tapered seat 3'! formed in the plug 36. This valve head israised or lowered from the seat 3? as it is operated by the stem andturns the water on or oil according to the position of the valve head66'. This is because the plug walls and the valve head obstruct anypassage of water through the unit. However assuming the valve stem andhead is turned to a mixing position it will allow water from the hot andcold piping 2i and 22 to pass through the slots 26 and 2'5 thencethrough passages 38 and and mix together, when the valve head 66 israised and will flow together through the spigot spout 24 into the basinor bath. If the cap 52 and indicating arm 53 is then rotated 180 degreesit will cut off the flow to the spigot and divert it through the grooveii in the plug head to the shower piping. The temperature of the watermixed is determined by the position of plug 36 and its passages 38 and39 in relation to the passages 26 and 2? in the hot and cold waterinlets. The amount the valve stem and head is raised will govern theamount of water released through outlet. A further rotation will closeoiT the c01d water and permit the hot water to flow through. Othervariations will permit the mixture of hot and cold water to be adjustedto any desirable temperature that the user deems The lower end'of thevalve stem 61 where it joins the valve head 65 is provided with a keywhich fits into a slot in a spacer collar 15 which is screwed into thelower part of the lock spindle 37 and is adjusted up or down againstthe, upper face of the plug to keep the A screw 85 keeps the dome on theend of the 4 tapered parts of the plug and body properly adjusted. To dothis, the thread 6-! is disengaged from 41, and collar i5 is turned byengaging slot 5! and key 45.

The dome 50 is an inverted bell-shaped cover for the cap 52 and acts asa handle to rotate volume control. It is smaller in diameter to allowthe operator to operate it by itself and when necessary to straddle overit with the fingers of his hand to manipulate the cap 52. The cap is setto furnish water of a suitable temperature, and is left alone, while thedome is manipulated to allow the predetermined volume of water to passthrough the unit. The arm 53 can be used to retate the cap or the usermay simply grasp its periphery with his fingers. The water may be mixedor used straight hot or cold and allowed to pass to either the spout orthe shower independently, as may be required. The turning of the capoperates the spindle 47 which in turn induces its pins M inserted in therecesses 43 to turn the plug This in turn rotates the valve head 55 inunison with the plug 36, so the volume of discharge does not vary andchanges the position of the plug and its passages with the variouspassages to or from the outlets or inlets into or away from the bodymember Hi.

The device is relatively easy to operate and its parts are of such formand position as to permit their facile inspection for repairs oradjustment.

The shut-off is positive because the valve head 66 not only seats firmlyin seat 31 but also seats plug 38 firmly into the tapered section M ofhousing it when screwed down to the off position. Also in the offposition the hot and cold water passages are sealed oii from one andanother, hence there is no chance of siphoning of water from one systemto another due to a dilference in pressure. Therefore no check valvesare required in conjunction with, or as a part of this faucet. Also dueto the special construction wherein the tapered plug floats in thehousing instead of being constantly turned under great mechanical orspring pressure, there is much less wear than in the conventional plugtype of faucet. The only time it is forceably seated in the faucethousing is when the water is completely shut off through the screwing ofvalve head 66 firmly into its seat which in turn seats the plug firmlyin the housing. The plug is not rotated to do this. It is only rotatedafter the pressure is released by opening the faucet and allowing thewater to flow. When the head is raised and the water is flowing, thetemperature control plug can be rotated to any desired position easilyand freely.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specifications, it is not desired to limit thisapplication for patent to this particular form or in any other wayotherwise than limited by the scope thereof, as it is appreciated thatother forms of construction could be made that would use the sameprinciples and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A mixing faucet unit comprising in combination, a body memberprovided with threaded portions at its upper end and a tapered lowerportion having a collar near its upper end for supporting said body,said body member having plural orifices therein, a hollow plug memberhaving holes in its upper face, and having tapered inner and outer wallsfor insertion in said tapered lower portion of said body-and a mixingchamber therein said hollow plug member having orifices therethrough atpredetermined positions and elevations for aligning with the orifices insaid body member at predetermined locations, a valve head having a keyon its upper face and positioned in the inner portion of said hollowplug for controlling the flow of fluids therethrough, a clamp plateattached to the upper outer portion of said body member to cooperatewith said collar, a hollow spindle having a flanged lower portion and athreaded inner portion, said flange of said spindle being provided withpins for contacting and rotating said hollow plug member, a flanged nutattached to the upper inner portion of said body member stuffingmaterial positioned in said nut, a packing nut for insertion in saidflanged nut and contacting the stuffing material and centralizing thespindle in said body member, a cap member attached to said spindle forrotating it and the hollow plug member, a stem with screw threads formedat its middle portion and having a valve head at its lower end, a handleconnected to the other end of said stem for controlling the flow ofliquids through the outlets, and a spacer collar having a key way in itslower face attached in said spindle, the key way being contacted by thekey on the valve head to rotate the collar, and for regulating thehollow plug in said body member to take up wear.

2. A mixing faucet unit comprising in combination, a body memberprovided with threaded portions at its upper end and a tapered lowerportion having a collar near its upper end for supporting said body,said body member having plural orifices therein, a hollow plug memberhaving holes in its upper face and having tapered inner and outer wallsfor insertion in said tapered lower portion of said body and a mixingchamber therein said hollow plug member having orifices therethrough atpredetermined positions and elevations for aligning with the orifices insaid body member at predetermined locations, a valve head having a keyon its upper face and positioned in the inner portion of said hollowplug for controlling the flow of fluids therethrough, and providing acomplete shut off for the faucet when the valve head is tightlypositioned in the hollow plug member forcing same against the taperedlower part of said body member, a clamp plate attached to the upperouter portion of said body member to cooperate with said collar, ahollow spindle having a flanged lower portion and a threaded innerportion, said flange of the spindle being provided with pins forcontacting and rotating said hollow plug member, a flanged nut attachedto the upper inner portion of said body member, stufling materialpositioned in a packing nut for insertion in said flanged nut andcontacting the stuffing material and centralizing the spindle in saidbody memher, a cap member attached to said spindle for rotating it andthe hollow plug member, a stem with screw threads formed at its middleportion and having a valve head at its lower end, a handle connected tothe other end of said stem for controlling the flow of liquids throughthe outlets, and a spacer collar having a key way in its lower faceattached in said spindle, the key way being contacted by the key on thevalve head to rotate the collar, and for regulating the hollow plug insaid body member to take up wear.

CHARLES KEPLER, BRO'WN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

